Monday, December 9, 2013

Having a family plan for those Christmas snow days and the Christmas vacation break is a must for families with children. Top priority for those with children too young to stay home alone is who is going to be keeping an eye on the children. Next there is the question of what will the children be doing? The answers change depending on age. Many will go to video games, playing with toys, and TV, but there is more that can add enjoyment and holiday magic into the days.

Many of us who love Christmas also enjoy the baking and decorating. We find love and joy from working on special food and items to make Christmas day special for everyone. Children would also love to help get ready for Christmas. Those snow and vacation days are the perfect time to get the kids involved and excited for Christmas. It is also a good time to bring up what Christmas means and add in some learning as well.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

﻿﻿ A Christmas train is on my husband's wish list and has been for the last five years or so. Trains are becoming more and more popular to have a train go around the Christmas tree, there is even stands to put the train half way up the tree. There are many many different trains each perfect in their own way.

For me, a Christmas train being special goes back to when I was a little girl. My grandfather worked for Grand Trunk, a train company. Every year we would wait in line early in the morning for hours. It was such a long line that they would serve hot chocolate and donuts while we waited for the train to arrive with Santa. The train cars leading up to Santa where decorated in a wonderful Christmas theme. On decoration I remember the most was the talking Christmas Tree. The tree would talk to people as they were going by. Then everyone would get to see Santa and get a small gift and candy.

Many years of fond memories of the train. I had checked when my kids where young and the Christmas train was no more. I look forward to hopefully see it recreated one day.

I found some good article on Squidoo on Christmas Trains. You can find even more enjoyable information about Christmas Trains.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Christmas cookies are one thing that I look forward to. I love making them with the family and of course eating them as well. The children love the decorating part (even though Dad is odd and doesn't want anything on his cookies). The top five cookie list for Christmas cookies may surprise you, it did me. There is a few on here I need to try, but the sound so yummy as well. Delight your guests this Christmas season by having all five of the best Christmas cookies and don't forget to visit back to tell us what they all thought as well.

Just a quick Google search for Christmas Wreath Cupcakes and the pictures are amazing. Many I would love to try. I found on Squidoo an article with not only a recipe but a video on making Christmas Wreath Cupcakes.

Such wonderful techniques. I still love to use M and M's to make the wreath on top of the cupcakes. So simple that children can even make them. The article on squidoo takes the cupcakes to the next level. Bound to amaze guests and look amazing.

I love to add a little flare to the Christmas party. If you make an interested cupcake and would love to share your link in comments. I'd be happy to check it out. I love seeing all the desgins.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Christmas shopping with the dreaded by many BLACK FRIDAY!! There may be ways to avoid the black Friday rush.

Many Black Friday ads can be viewed already at many online sites. One site, Black Friday 2014, is a one stop site to view the hot Black Friday deals. Ok so we got your attention with some of the hot ads. Now take a look to see if those prices are going to be offered online. Most of the Black Friday deals can be bought online. Often, to boost online sales, there is free or low shipping cost at this time of the year. So, depending on what you are shopping for, you may never have to leave home to get the Christmas shopping done. There are many Black Friday sales that are only available online as well.

I still love to get out to the stores and see the Christmas displays. I have to try all the new gadgets out and pick up some decoration ideas. I just make sure to enjoy the Christmas display and any other day than Black Friday. Instead of shopping on Black Friday we will be putting up our Christmas decorations. With a little bit of preplanning, we already have most of our shopping done.

Shopping early every year for Christmas is a wonderful way to reduce the stress of Christmas shopping. Budgets are predetermined and help to keep us on track. This method has helped us to pay cash and not run up the charge card bills. The budgets are based on income not wants. By preplanning we are also able to save up for some expensive gifts as well. It’s not too late. Check out those ADS for Black Friday and then check out the prices now. You may be able to find the same great deal now. With online shopping and search sites like Google Shopping, it is very easy to check prices.

Black Friday will be here soon. November 29th this year. While I hope everyone will have fun and save some money, there is always those shocking moments on the news. I have worked Black Friday as a retail store worker. It was back when the Furbies first came out. The store manager was almost trampled as she had tickets for the limited number of Furbies we had. The rest of the day was great because the hours flew by for me. So I have a great respect for workers on Black Friday. Although there was no Furbies after a few minutes on Black Friday we did get more shipments in for Christmas. I hope everyone will have a safe Black Friday and please remember what Christmas is all about. There is no need to fight over product.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

I can hear some reader saying, “Oh Yes, I can’t wait!” while others are saying “No way, not yet!” It can be very interesting to see both side of the Christmas joy and dismay. For both side of how Christmas is precede often includes the joy and celebration traditions the families have created. It a sad though, but Christmas just may be another day for some people. Those special memories, the magic of Christmas, and the amazement of staring at the Christmas lights all comes from how Christmas is spent.

Christmas can fill a person heart with joy and bring back memories of Christmas pass. Christmas can also be the crowded shopping stores, greedy people asking for everything, spending too much, and the hassle of possible bad weather. Those two sentences show the drastic difference people can feel when getting ready for Christmas. Everyone can have joy and happiness with Christmas, but it takes a little bit of work.

Stores can be an issue at Christmas time. I totally enjoy Christmas shopping though. Why? All the Christmas displays make me happy. Yes, my family one of those that will try everything in the aisle. My husband even enjoys Christmas shopping even though he not a fan of large crowds. It really is not the people he has an issue with. It happens to be the rude ones you might bump into. The ones we see articles in the newspaper for being demanding, pushing, and even fighting for a simple object. With a little love, kindness, patience, understanding, and caring for fellow man can solve all of the issues. Yes, I would be one of those parents who would give up an item my child really wanted just to not fight. Yet we have had many wonderful Christmases. Never have my children complain that they didn’t get something or about how much they got. They were thankful.

The magic of Christmas means a lot to me. My mother holds Christmas very dear and we both have very fond memories of Christmas. I have passed this on to my children. When they were very young we made Christmas day a day about the children and their new gifts. Instead of making a large meal that would make the parents send lots of time in the kitchen, we pre-made or made easy items. We did this so we could play with the children.

When the kids were old enough they started to help put up decorations. I love putting up the lights on the Christmas tree. One year I put up 21 strands on the tree. I wrapped each branch front to back. I blew the breaker and was ready to cry when my oldest son and husband came to the rescue. We safely got all the light to work. (Had to run some extra power cords to the Christmas tree.) Since that Christmas my son loves to help me put up the lights. He and my husband often talk about the Christmas I went overboard with lights on the tree. That Christmas tree sure was pretty. Now that Christmas is one of those memories that fill our hearts with love and joy every time we look at Christmas lights.

Christmas is all about the pass, present, and future. If Christmas has been like just another day, then it is time for a change. For those that don’t have a family there are churches, homeless shelters, and nursing homes that can all use some volunteers. What else could be better at Christmas then helping someone else? In return you find companions to help bring joy, love, and cheer into Christmas. After all those three things are all people need to have a Merry Christmas.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Many people are already shopping and planning for Christmas 2014. Making the budget stretch as far as it can to help surprise those special people in your life with something they really want can be very hard. All of that work is 100% worth it when those eye look up at you filled with love and joy.

Some of things people love the most about Christmas are not always the gifts. I love the trees, the lights, Christmas traditions and spending time with family. Years ago my husband and I decided to make Christmas day all around the children. For food we had anything that could be premade and warmed up like Cheese and Bean dip and chips. The kids love that we don’t spend too much time in the kitchen instead.

For some people Christmas is just another day. For me, that is the saddest thing to see. Christmas has such a special meaning. It a day celebrated by Christian for the birth of Christ. For some it’s a day to give and get gifts with family and friends. Such a loving time of the year to help chases away the winter blues with happiness, cheer, and giving.

What about the people who are alone on Christmas? Those are the people we all need to reach out to. If you know someone who is all alone try to do something nice for them for Christmas. That would be just want they need to help cheer them up. That can be a yearly tradition for the family to do something nice for some of the neighbors that are alone.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Had to share this wonderful blue frog. Great for cheering up someone who has the blue. If you like frogs and blue this is the perfect gift for you. Stunning blue color with that cute little frog. Contact Edmond Hogge if interested. Plus there are even more color options, but I think blue is the best.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Christmas can be a very stressful time of the year. There is so much that people want to do and then thier budget just doesn't allow for their wants. Now cutting back and living in your budget is very important, but so is enjoying Christmas. Now I'm not saying by any means you should spend more then you have nor do I think charging Christmas is a good idea. Matter of fact charging is the worst thing you can do at Christmas time as it make the rest of the year harder. Instead it best to start thinking about Christmas cash now.

Tucking away a little bit every week will help to make Christmas easier for you. Plus you may be even able to have a little extra for those rainy days. It used to be standard practice for people to make sure they had a nest egg saved up.. then charge cards and loan became more popular. Sadly I still have these but wish I didn't. One of the things I tell my kids is don't do it. Don't get a charge card and don't get a loan. Save up instead. Same for Christmas we need to save up. Put away $10 a week would be $520 dollars a year. Now that would be a very nice Christmas budget.

If you are already having a hard time making ends meet consider picking up a side hobby that can make money. For me writing is that hobby. I enjoy it, I learn, and I make money. I am by far not the worlds best writer and I'm sure an English major is shaking their heads, but it is fun.

Christmas cash can also be made by selling items. You can pick up good items at flea markets and garage sales. For me I like to use Listia. I list for free items I want to get rid of it and in return I get points. I then use those points for other items I want. A great way to get items for Christmas. Its also a great way to get rid of items you no longer need or bad gifts (although we know the giver had the best intentions.)

Many banks offer Christmas Clubs that earn higher interest rate then regular savings. They do this because they can use your money until Christmas. This is a great way to make money you can save grow.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Listia is a wonderful site that you can give and get items for free. I know I was skeptical on the free words as well, but I have been using Listia for a few months now and I have gotten rid of things I don't need, like the bear charm, and got my kids items they wanted. Including a few things we needed around the house.

Listia allows users to post items up for auction, free of charge unlike places like ebay. What the catch, you don't get money you get points. Now many people off free shipping, which usually equals out to more points, but you can charge shipping as well. Points can also be earned by doing filling out surveys or even shopping online.

Points can be save up and used to bid on its. Like mentioned before there are many auctions with free shipping. So you can just earn points and bid on auctions with free shipping and get free items.

Spring CleaningListia can be very helpful so we don't send useful items to the trash. If you see items that are good being thrown out while people spring clean, you can give them away on Listia, if you can't afford the shipping, not a big deal just charge for the shipping. Note: to charge for shipping hit the additional option button on the bottom left when listing an item.

Using listia throughout the year is a wonderful way to earn up points for Christmas and get some really neat Christmas items. There are also many craft items that can be turned into wonderful gifts or even better into a way for extra profits.

Really get Points too
When you first sign up they give you free credits and it is really easy to acutally earn points. On your "My Listia" page there is a spot to click for surveys. I love the one from Peanut Lab the most because I get some credit 90% of the time even if I get kicked out. Unlike many sites that have you feel out survey that take forever and then you get nothing back in the end. I have done a lot of survey but I have never spent more then 30 mins for a survey, plus I got credit for that survey.

If you check out Lisita don't forget to friend me too. I'm on there tracysmith159... if you send me a message I'll make sure to friend ya back.

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Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

This 68 page eBook is packed with fresh ideas for anyone who loves Christmas, making gifts, decorating their home and saving money. Co-authored by eHowers, Shirley Philbrick and Pam Irie, (Shirley from Maine and Pam in Hawaii) representing the furthest U.S. states East and West.

They have never met but their styles are complimentary. What developed between them resulted in Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas, Decorating & Tips - All Under $15. The reason behind this eBook....well, they share an "off-the-beaten-path" outlook towards life and live it with a certain style that is often eclectic and makes use of unusual and recycled materials or those found in nature. It seemed a natural progression for their mutual interests.